Electric switch



I J. KLEIN, DECD. H. c. KLEIN, ADMINISTRATOR.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FI'LED FEB. 28, 1.918.

1,408,097, Patentd Feb. 28, 1922.

- AvmmrsTRAToR.

-a pair of spaced stationary 5'. KLEIN, DECEASED,

LATE 01f MILWAUKEE, "WISCONSIN, BY HENRY C.

KLEIN, ADMINI$TRATOR, OF'YONKEBS, NEW YORK, A$$IGNOR TO THE CUTLERI- HAMMER MFG.

(30., OF MILVJA'UKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION 0F wis- ELECTRIC SWITCH.

asher.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb 28 1922.

Application filed February 28, 1918. Serial Ho. 219,587.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHARLES J. KLEIN, deceased, late a citizen of the United States,

residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee,

' for automobile spot-lights.

Among the objects of the invention is that of providing a switch of the character aforesaid, embodying 'all important functional advantages of switches regularly employed for like uses and capable of manufacture at greatly reduced cost.

A further object is that of providing an exceedingly simple, durable and. efficient switch comprising few, and rugged parts capable of ready manufacture and assembly.

Other objects and advantages will here.

inafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, 4

Figure thereof;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing certain arts in an altered relation; while,

Figs. 3-and 4c are respectively an end view and a bottom plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the same shows contacts 5, 5 adapted :to be engaged and bridged by a reciprocating contactor 6 comprising a reflexed resilient stamping having its side portions symmetrical and biased outwardly and each formed to provide a pair of outwardly disposed cam surfaces 7 and 8 merging in an abrupt crest 9. The contacts 5 are mountedupon the upper face of a per-. forated insulating base 10, with their adjacent ends arranged flush with the sides of the opening therein and in suitable relation 1 is a longitudinal sectional View to be engagedflby the respective cam surtion, said contactor being movable toward the base to force its cam extremities within said opening to disengage the fixed contacts.

F or releasably restraining the contractor in the latter mentioned position, the opening of the base 10 is formed with downwardly facing shoulders 11, 11 adapted to be engaged by the respective cam surfaces 7 while the crests 9 are similarly adapted to respectively engage a pair ofinwardly facing shoulders 12, 12 also formed within said openin thereby preventing such spreading of the contactor as would bring the side portions thereof into dangerous proximity with the fixed contacts. For further spacing of the contactor from the fixed contacts when in off position, said side portions are inbent as shown zit-13 and 13.

To facilitate the formation of the various shoulders within the opening of the base 10. the latter may be advantageously constructed of a pair of superposed sections 14 and 15, each provided with a centrally located rectangular opening, and the opening in the lower section Mibeingof greater extent longitudinally of said sections than the corresponding opening in the upper sec tion 15, whereby the exposed lower surfaces of the section 15 constitutes the shoulders 11 while the continguous sides of the opening in the section 14 constitute the shoulders 12.

The contactor 6 is centrally riveted or otherwise secured to the end of a reciprocable operating rod 16 and insulated therefrom by suitable washers 17 18, said rod the former bent downwardly about the ends of the latter. Said plates are provided with registering openings to receive the rod 16. the sleeve 19 penetrating the opening of the plate 21 and being beaded therebeyond and the opening in. the plate 22 being enlarged to receive such beaded portion. The outer end of the rod16 is provided with an integral or rigidly secured handle 24 for upon an insulating plate 22 the fixed contacts 'manual operation of the switch, the inner end of said handle having a shoulder portion 25 adapted to abut the outer end of the sleeve vl9glgtor limiting movement of the rod 16 and it attached contactor in one direction, reverse movement of said members being limited by abutment of the washer 17 against the lower face of the plate 22.

' A pair of terminal bars 26, 26 are riveted at their. upper ends to the insulating plate 22, the adjacent portions of the plate 21 being cut away as shown at 27 for preventing electrical connection with said bars. Each ofthebars 26 is'provided with a terminal screw 28 while the lower ends of said bars penetrate the two sections of the base and are riveted therebeyond, thereby completing a rigid self supporting switch, while further serving to secure said sections in assembled relation.

In practice the fixed contacts 5 preferably comprise integral portions of the bars 26 inbent and arranged flatwise upon the upper surfaceof the base 10, said contacts/thus performing the additional function of stops for fixing the vertical position of said base.

The various switch parts being in the position illustrated the resiliency of the contactor serves to faces 8 thereof in yielding engagement with 5 while the latter also serve as shoulders for maintaining the contactor. in its upper extreme position. Upon shifting of the contactor downwardly across the plane .would cause engagement with the of the base 10, said cam surfaces are adapted to wipe across the opposed ends of said contacts, thus forcing the free ends of the contactor toward each other and permitting the crests 9 to pass'suddenly from said contacts to theadjacent flush sides of the opening in the base sect-ion 15, thereby insuring practically instantaneous circuit interruption.

Upon continued movement of the contactor,

the crests 9 snap over the shoulders 11 of the base for permitting the cam surface 7 to en'- gage said shoulders thereby releasably securmg the contactor in open circuit posltiton while preventing such expansion thereof as contacts. Also, when in .saidposition, the crests 9 are adapted to abut the shoulders 12 of the base thus providing an additional limit to the expansion of the contactor.

Under ordinary circumstances the switch,

is fully operative with the plate 14 omitted. However, under such conditions the shoulders 11 of the plate 15 are subjected to com- Thus the durability increased and its pe prolonged by the ad paratively rapid wear,

riod of effective service dition of said plate14 with its associated shoulders functioning as described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, in combination,-

frame for the" silient contactor having maintain the lower cam surfixed 1n,-a contact plate secured insulating late, the end of "arranged" ush with the side of the opening in the latter, the'outer edges. of'said plates portions arranged to be a base having an opening therein, a contact fixed to said base adjacent said opening and a contactor having a part adapted to engage said contact, said contactor being movable to force said part within said opening in said base, and said contactor and said base h: v ing coacting parts providing for sudden dis engagement of said contactor. from said contact during such movement of the former. V

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a base having an opening therein, a pair of contacts fixed to of said opening and a contactor having parts adapted to engage and bridge said cohtacts and being movable for forcing said parts within said opening of said base, said contactor and said base having coacting parts' providing for sudden disengagement of said contactor from said contacts during such movementof the former.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a base having an opening, the latter being provided with a shoulder therein, a contact fixed to said base adjacentsaid opening and a regage said contact and to move across the same and within said opening to effect d-isen-.

gageme'nt'of said contactor from said contact and engagement of the former with the shoul er within the opening of said base for retaining said contactor disengaged from said contact.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a. base having an opening, the latter being formed to provide a pair of shoulders therein, a contact secured to said base adjacent said opening and a resilient contactor having parts adapted to engage said contact and movable across the same and within said opening for ,disengaging said contactor from said contact and for co-operation with said shoulders to releasably restrain said contactor out of engagement with said. contact.

5. In an electric switch, ingzombination, an-

insulating plate jhaving an opening there in, a contact secured to one side of said plate adjacent said opening, and a resilient contactor having parts adapted to be forced through said opening for abutting engagement selectively with the portions of said: plate contiguous to said v contact and of said opening.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, an insulating plate having an opening therefiatwise-upon said ad acent said opening providing opposed shoulders and a reciprocable contactor adapted alternately to engage and disengage said contact and having convergently sloping forced through said opening and biased to engage said shoulders selectivelyfor limiting movement of said parts adapted to em said base on opposite sides the former being such engagecontactor in either direction,

said

tinuatibn of the boundary of said opening,

the exposed edges of said contacts and said plate adjacent said opening constituting opposed shoulders, and a reciprocable contac-' 'tor adapted alternately to bridge and to disengage said contacts and having convergently sloping portions arranged to beforced through said opening and biased to engage selectively with certain of said shoulders in either extreme position.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a

, flat insulating base having a transverse opening-therein, a fiat contact secured to one side 'of said base and arranged to provide 'a'continuation ofthe boundary of said opening,

the exposed edge of said contact and of said plate adjacent said opening constituting a i pair of opposed shoulders, a recip-rocable con- --'tactor for cooperation with said contact and 1 having oppositely sloping portions said'conitactor partsbeing arranged to be forced through-said opening and being biased to cause engagement of the respective sloping portions with one of said shoulders in-eithei extreme position, said base having a secon shoulder adapted to be engaged 1 insulating of said contactor when in one poby a part sition for 9. In an electric switch,in combination, a flat insulating ing therein, a pair of contacts secured to said base upon opposite si es of said opening and arranged to provide a continuation of the boundary of said opening, the exposed edges I of said contacts and said base adjacent. said opening constituting pairs of opposed shoulders, a reflexed reciprocable contactor adapted alternately to engage and disengage said contacts and having its reflexed sides similar and biased apart, each of said sides including oppositely sloping portions merging in a crest, said contactor parts being-arranged to be forced throughsaid opening to engage the. shoulders of said, contacts and of said base respectively for releasably restraining said contactor in either extreme position, said base having a second pair of insulating shoulders arranged to be engaged respectively by said crests in, one position of said contactor for limiting spreading of the sides of said contactor.

'10. In an electric switch,'in combination, a fiat insulating base having a transverse opening therein, a pair of contacts secured to said base upon opposite sides of said opening and arranged to providea continuation oflimiting movement thereof-in re-- sponse to its bias.

base having a transverse openthe boundary of said opening, the exposed edgesof said contacts and said base adjacent said opening constituting pairs of opposed shoulders, a reflexed'reciprocable contactor adapted alternately to said contacts and having its reflexed sides similar and biased apart, each of said sides including oppositely sloping portions mergin a crest, said contactor parts being arranged to'be forced through said opening to engage the shoulders of said contacts andof said base respectively for releasably restraining said contactor in either. extreme position, said base having a second pair of insulating shoulders arranged to be engaged respectively by said crests in one'position of said contactor for. limitingspreadingof the sides of said contactor, said sides having portions thereof inbent for spacing the same frbm opening in one of said sections being larger than the corresponding opening in the other section, thereby providing opposed pairs of contiguous shoulders within said passage, a pair of contacts having parts arranged flush with the sides of the opening in said latter mentioned section, the respective contacts having means formed integral therewith for securing the same to said base and also for securing the sections of said base in assembled relation, and a contactor having parts movable bodily into and out of said passage for engaging saidcontacts and said shoulders selectively.

12. In an electric sw-itch,-in combination, a base, a pair of terminal bars riveted thereto and projecting at right angles therefrom in parallelspaced relation to each other, the opposite ends of said bars being secured-in insulated relation to a support, said support being arranged in parallel relation to said base to form a self supporting switch frame, said bars being provided with terminals and engage and disengage having integrally formed contacts abutting said base within said frame, and a contactor movable within said frame to engage and disengage said contacts.

13. In an electric switch, in combination, a base, a pair of terminal bars having par-ts bent at right angles thereto to form contacts,

" a contact, said bars being terminally riveted to said base with said contacts abutting the latter, an insulating plate secured to the opposite ends of said bars by riveting, a supporting plate secured to said insulating plate 5 in spaced relation to said bars by means of inte ral lugs clamped about the ends of said insu ating plate, and a contactor movable with respect to said contacts for alternately en aging and disengaging the same.

I! witness whereof, I have hereunto sub 10 scribed my name.

I HENRY C. KLEIN, Administrator of the estate of Charles J.

KZez'n, deceased. 

